Industrial Careers Pathway (ICP) assisted dozens of volunteer “ICP Ambassadors” to participate in 39 career events across North America in 2016. Any employee of an industrial distribution company with membership in one of nine ICP Alliance Partner trade associations can become an ICP Ambassador by volunteering. ICP Ambassadors are encouraged to represent their respective companies, in addition to the industrial distribution industry as a whole, at career events in their local communities where “right-fit” potential employees are looking for career information.
In 2016, ICP doubled the number of events resulting in nearly 15,000 face-to-face encounters through appearances by an ICP Ambassador and/or staff. Additionally, 8,000 influencers (administrators, teachers, counselors and parents) were exposed to the industry through various national meetings and advertising.
ICP Steering Committee Chair Tribby Warfield, senior VP & general manager Kaman Automation & Fluid Power, Kaman Distribution Group said, “With the help of ICP Alliance Partners and their members, we are seeing more interest in industrial distribution by students just starting out in their careers. Local volunteers are getting more opportunities to interact with students and instructors to talk about not only their own companies as potential employers but also why the field of industrial distribution might be a great career fit for young people today. We are getting requests for volunteers to come back and talk to new classes each year and that is encouraging.”
In addition to coordinating career event volunteers in the U.S. and Canada, ICP develops and delivers useful programs, services and tools to help industrial distribution employers recruit, hire, on-board, manage, train and retain entry-level employees. There are many resources available to the member companies of ICP Alliance Partner trade associations such as the free “Find-an-Intern” directory at IndustrialCareersPathway.org/FindAnIntern which companies can use to identify schools with student internship programs.
Industrial Careers Pathway is a multifaceted North American workforce initiative supported by an alliance of industry associations including American Supply Association, Heating Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International, Industrial Supply Association, National Association of Chemical Distributors, National Association of Electrical Distributors, NAHAD—The Association for Hose & Accessories Distribution, NIBA—The Belting Association, North American Building Material Distribution Association (NBMDA) and PTDA Foundation.
ICP links students and job seekers to career paths in industrial distribution and manufacturing through partnerships with local educators and employers. For more information, visit IndustrialCareersPathway.org/Hire, contact ICP at info@IndustrialCareersPathway.org or call 312-516-2100.
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